Jersey Sings 2025! A Free Level Up Your Singing Event

Jersey Sings is an action packed day of sessions on everying from vocal technique and connecting with your audience to beatboxing and music theory. The variety of options and the calibur of the instructors is what makes this event the best in the region.

Classes and activities are designed to meet the different degrees of experience of the participants, from beginner to pro ensuring everyone reaches that next level of singing. While attendees are asked to RSVP with their experience level, you won't be locked into a specific set of classes. There will be several courses happening at the same time and you can pick which session would be the best fit and of the most interest to you.

Some sessions to choose from:

- Beginner's Guide to Singing/I Don't Think I Can Sing

- Intermediate vocal technique (incl. physiology of vocal production)

- Psychology of Music - how does music make you feel?

- How to Groove, get that rhythm!

- Basic Music Theory

- Advanced vocal technique (IPA and tone painting)

- Vocal Health & Personal Vocal Warm-ups

- Sight Reading Basics & Solfege

- Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Stage Fright

- How to Beatbox

- How to be a Great Harmony or Melody Singer

- Connecting With Your Audience

How much does it cost?

There is NO cost to participate. Donations to the Hunterdon Choral Alliance are welcome and may be considered a charitable contribution for tax purposes as the Alliance is a 501(c)(3) organization.

What are the various levels of experience?

The day of singing is set up for everyone to grow their skills and knowledge as singers. From novice singers to professionals, all classes and activities will be geared for certain levels of experience:

Ready Set Sing – for adults (18+) that have been casual singers, perhaps at home or along with the crowd at a concert or in the car. They want to learn how to sing and see if they have what it takes.

Experienced – adult singers who have some experience in a chorus, solo or small ensemble, and performed for audiences. They may have a basic to intermediate level reading sheet music. Would like to build singing skills or even just sing actively again.

Masterclass – adult singers with many years of experience singing for audiences, either as soloists or in ensembles. Comfortable sight-reading music and blending their voice with others. Comfortable singing melody or harmony. Seeking new tools to use in building more vocal artistry into performances.

Next Generation – middle and high school singers seeking an opportunity to learn vocal techniques and apply them in a contemporary a cappella chorus. May have experience singing in choruses or are interested in choral opportunities outside of school.

Meet Your Instructors

Pat Cerillo

Mr. Cerillo has a bachelor of arts degree in music and political science from Lycoming College, and a law degree from the Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law. An accomplished vocalist, a cappella performer, trumpet, and piano player, Cerillo’s barbershop quartets have performed as a guest of Les Paul, at the Iridium Jazz Club in Manhattan, at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank and also opened for Jeremy Jordan of Broadway fame at the Union County Performing Arts Center. Pat has served as part of the musical leadership of the Hunterdon Harmonizers for over two decades and is also an active performer with the Brothers in Harmony chorus in Hamilton, New Jersey, and the ever-popular Ovation Quartet.

Christian Hunter

Christian is a very active member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, often infusing his wit and light comedy to his performances and presentations far and wide. He has been a member of the BHS within the Hunterdon County, NJ chapter since 2007 serving in numerous roles including as a founder of the Hunterdon Choral Alliance, member of Hunterdon Harmonizers and Vocal Synergy. He is also the baritone of the Mid‐Atlantic 2010 Novice Quartet champion, “Plead the 5th“as well as “A Definite Harmony Disorder – the ADHD Quartet” and "Men of Steele".

Matthew Marinelli

Matthew Marinelli, a baritone and instrumentalist, is a recent graduate of Westminster Choir College with a Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance. During his college years, he performed as both a vocalist and guitarist with the Westminster Choir as they toured throughout the United States, Spain, and China, and can be heard singing bass on their Martin Mass for Double Choir album. He also performed with Westminster's early music choir, Kantorei, as both a vocalist and mandolin player, and spent two years as music director of Westminster's all-men's a cappella group, Soulfege. In addition to his time in choral ensembles, Marinelli performed professionally and as a student in numerous operas including as the voice of a lead marionette in Cimarosa's Il Matrimonio Segreto and Figaro in Mozart's Le Nozze Di Figaro! He currently teaches music lessons in piano, voice, guitar, and ukulele and sings professionally with several groups including the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir as well as the Hunterdon Harmonizers. Marinelli is well versed in many genres including classical, folk, bluegrass, country, blues, jazz, and rock.

Brian Mastrull

B rian is the director of the award-winning barbershop chorus, Evolution in Harmony, of Ringoes, NJ. Brian was born and raised in the world of barbershop harmony and could be found singing tenor as soon as he could talk. He has been a very active barbershop quartet singer competitively performing with quartets from his college days through the present. By day Brian is an engineer with a world-famous retail food company and he is proud to have always called Hunterdon County his home.

Charles Ross

Charlie has over 30 years of directing and musical experience leading several church choirs and barbershop choruses. Charlie also has many years of theater experience playing many roles, as well as managing and technical experience working behind the scenes. He has performed with the Ridge Light Opera and is an accomplished soloist. Charlie was a founder of the Atlantic Harmony Brigade – an annual congregation of barbershop quartet singers who learn a challenging common repertoire of songs and form countless quartets in a weekend of harmonic bliss. Charlie has performed at the highest levels of choral competition within the Barbershop Harmony Society and is an active quartet singer, currently singing lead with Vocal Synergy’s “Cohesion” quartet. Charlie studied voice for many years under Emile Renan in New York (Metropolitan Opera). Charlie is an executive with a global promotional marketing firm in Whitehouse Station, NJ, and is an amateur astronomer.

MORE TO COME!

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This event is FREE for participants thanks to the support of the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission.

Info:

Host or Publisher Hunterdon Choral Alliance